Ragged Isle The Web Series: A Spine-Tingling Supernatural Mystery

2014 Starts Off With A Bang

2014 is getting off to a great start here at The 7th Matrix,  since the very first web series featured this year turns out to be one of the best.

Ragged Isle is described by co-creator Barry Dodd as a supernatural mystery inspired by genre classics such as Twin Peaks, Dark Shadows,  and The  X-Files.

I would have to whole-heartedly agree.

The Dark Heart of An Island

Ragged Isle is set in a tiny fishing community located on an island right off the coast of Maine. 

One eventful summer,  a young woman named Vicki Burke  (Meghan Benton) arrives on the island  to accept a job with the local newspaper - and reconnect with her twin brother who resides there.

However, the self-assured Vicki quickly finds herself smack in the middle of bizarre events that crack open the island's darkest and deadliest secret.

Soon after her arrival, citizens of the island start turning up dead.  

The manner of their deaths? Drowning - on land, nowhere near the water, with their clothing completely dry.

As Vicki begins to piece together the truth behind the mysterious deaths, she and the residents of the island slowly begin to realize dark forces are at work.

Forces that may never let anyone leave Ragged Isle again.

An Impressive Showcase

Produced by local digital media company Entertainment Experiment, the project is filmed entirely on locations in the state of Maine.  

You first notice you are watching something special from the moment the exquisite opening credits roll.

The producers use the gorgeous local scenery to full effect.  You can almost  smell the salt in the sea air.   

In fact, the locale is another main character in the piece.

The breathtaking cinematography features azure skies, foam-capped waves, verdant island foliage, and a picturesque New England town.

The  plot of Ragged Isle  unspools gradually, but not too slowly.

 Its precise pacing  serves to build suspense, since you are uncovering the island's unnerving secrets along with the characters.

Another series highlight is the cast.

The acting prowess of not only the main cast, but also the background players, is nothing short of first-rate.  

The dialogue is written in the way people actually speak - and the actors' delivery makes you feel as though you are eavesdropping on personal conversations.

Also, I would be very remiss if I failed to mention the sensational soundtrack.

Complied with original songs spanning folk and rock genres, the music is seamlessly integrated into the  narrative - helping to give the project a very distinct identity.

Visit Ragged Isle

Currently Ragged Isle is in the middle of its third and final season.  

The good news? 

You can catch up on every single episode  by visiting the official series web site:  RaggedIsle.com.

Here is the trailer for season one:

Ragged Isle is a seductive siren song of mystery and suspense. 

Highly recommended!

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Horror Hotel The Web Series - Where Weirdness Checks In

Horror Hotel is a new anthology web series heavily influenced by classics such as The Twilight Zone and The Outer Limits. 

Created by Ricky Hess, Horror Hotel is an eclectic mix of sci-fi, horror and film noir set against the backdrop of a seedy motel on a road to nowhere.

The first season is comprised of six episodes. Each one is a morality tale populated with weird, quirky characters who live on society's fringe. 

Like most anthologies of any media, Horror Hotel''s main strength is also its weakness. 

Being an anthology, the series is episodic instead of serialized in nature. This is a positive, because you are able to fully invest in characters and plots that resonate with you - without the burden of deciphering a complicated, overarching story.

However, some episodes are narratively stronger than others.  This unevenness serves to lessen the full dramatic impact of the whole.

Still,  this fault is ultimately overcome by excellent production value, and quirky characters you won't soon forget. 

Standout episodes include: 

•  Guillotine  A beautiful starlet is willing to pay any price for a mystical artifact rumored to make any  woman irresistible

• Invader A neurotic woman fears another motel resident is an alien spying on earth as a prelude to invasion.  Shot in gorgeous black and white, this episode hearkens back to the paranoid, post-World War II science fiction movies of the 1950s.   

To get a feel for life as a guest at the Horror Hotel, watch the season one trailer: 

 The entire first season is now available on YouTube: Horror Hotel. 

If you are looking for a genre web series that is truly unique,  pay a visit to Horror Hotel.  Its unique blend of sci-fi, horror, and, well, weirdness is certain to be just what the doctor ordered.

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Zombie With A Shotgun - The Web Series Review

To say zombies are white-hot is as obvious as stating water is wet. 

Due in part to the explosive success of the Image Comics title and AMC network series The Walking Dead, zombies have left an indelible mark on pop culture. 

Despite their popularity,  stories about the living dead are not my personal favorite.

However, there are some projects that use them more compellingly than others.  I wrote a review several months ago about such a project - the terrific web series Project S.E.R.A.

Zombie With A Shotgun (ZWAS) is another such project. 

First, the web series name is an attention-getter.  The name alone intrigued me enough to check it out!

Written and directed by filmmaker Hilton Ariel Ruiz, ZWAS tells the story of Aaron (Braeden Baade), a man who has contracted a virus that will gradually transform him into a zombie.

While there is action, ZWAS is most definitely a character-centric piece.

On the run with his girlfriend Rachel (Lynnea Molone), you are made privy to Aaron's inner life as he struggles with the agonizing knowledge he will inevitably succumb to the virus.

Rachel is also distraught as she is confronted with the horrible reality the man she loves is gradually slipping away.

 ZWAS has excellent production values as well - especially for an independently produced web series. The lighting and editing create a sense of claustrophobia which serves to heighten the dramatic tension.

The musical score is also superb, with creepy beats, tones, and various sound effects certain to set you on edge. 

As of this writing, four episodes approximately 5 minutes in length each have been released. 

Watch the premiere episode below to experience a sample of the series tone: 

To watch all current episodes, visit the series channel on Vimeo. 

For more information about the production, visit the project's official Tumblr blog. 

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Malice: The Web Series - A Supernatural Coming Of Age Story

Malice The Web Series is weird.

It's a coming-of-age story dressed up as a creepy supernatural thriller - and it's fantastic! 

Created, written, and directed by Philip Cook, Malice tells the story of Alice Turner, a 16-year-old girl who seems to be a typical teen.  She has an older sister she spars with, and parents who are dealing with their own personal demons.

In the beginning of the series, Alice and her family move into her recently deceased grandmother's home.  With the move, her father is hoping for a fresh start for his family.

However, it soon becomes clear to Alice that something is very wrong. 

There's a presence in the house. One that thrives in darkness and has a sinister connection to Alice's family. Soon she finds herself  battling to save her loved ones from a bizarre supernatural horror.

Overall Malice succeeds in telling a story with some real chills.

 It is very atmospheric with cinematography that makes effective use of the play between light and dark to create a sense of dread. The wonderful soundtrack adds a layer of foreboding.

The writing is smart  and the plotting is tight. There are no superfluous storylines to detract from the main narrative.

It's also important to note the supernatural threat Alice contends with is not your typical horror movie monster. It isn't a vampire, werewolf, or zombie - but something quite unique.

The acting of the main cast is competent, but the standout is series star Brittany Martz.  

This young actress fully embodies a vulnerable young woman who yearns for the healing of her broken family. 

Yet Alice is no shrinking violet.

In one pivotal scene later in the series, she finds herself embroiled in a very tense situation. Instead of going into hysterics, she steely says "I will not be helpless!" and proceeds to take action.

Hell yes!  Buffy Summers move over. There is a new heroine on the scene and her name is Alice Turner. 

Watch the series trailer here:

Malice is a independent production funded completely by its audience.

Two seasons totaling 19 episodes (this includes special one-offs) have been produced that complete the first story arc.  A third is currently being planned.

Update:  The third season of Malice, entitled Malice: Metamorphosis is now online!

You can watch all current episodes on the online network on YouTube.

For more information about the production and how you can help support it, please visit Eagle Films.

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Haywire: The Series - A Horror Story Where The Mundane Becomes Monstrous

Often the most bone-chilling horror stories are derived from tales of average people having to cope with extraordinary circumstances. 

Capitalizing on this fact is what has helped make Stephen King one of the world's most successful authors. 

Director Scott Klein has followed suit with his creation Haywire: The Series.  The result is a  very unsettling tale of a suburban community gone mad.

Insanity's Herald

This project has a very unique and compelling premise: one bright, sunny Saturday afternoon in the city of Monroe, NY,  an explosion of brilliant light occurs high in the sky.  

Everyone who witnesses this strange phenomenon immediately suffers a horrible side effect:  their minds becomes acutely fixated on the last task they were involved with.

No matter how routine or mundane the task is (walking the dog, mowing the grass, jogging, etc.), the victims are compelled to perform it over and over.  

What's even more bizarre? Those affected will become homicidal with anyone who attempts to interfere.

Those unaffected by the light phenomenon must deal with a world gone completely "Haywire."

The series follows various groups of survivors as they attempt to navigate their new, terrifying existence. 

A Disturbing Vision Well Executed

I found the compelling premise to be the chief selling point of this series. Director/Series Creator/Executive Producer Scott Klein has constructed almost every episode to end with a mini-cliffhanger, which gives the project a sense of forward momentum.

The acting is often wildly uneven, with some performers far more convincing than others. But as a whole,  the cast succeed in conveying a sense of disorientation, paranoia, and fear  essential in selling the central premise.

The makeup effects for the victims, or "raccoons" as they are referred in the series, is minimal yet very effective in serving as a visual cue for their madness.  

Another production highlight is the use of comic book inspired artwork for the fantastic opening title sequence.  

Kudos to the art team including pencils by Victor L. Castro, Jr., inks by Steve Hoveke,  coloring by Hassan Godwin, with lettering by Arlene So (who also is a series producer).

Finally

Haywire: The Series is an independent production of the Lights Out! Film Group.   

So far, two seasons have been completed - 19 episodes in total. This alone is quite an achievement for a sci fi web series produced with a limited budget.

 I enjoyed this ambitious series, and want to continue to explore the mysteries presented. My hope is there will be more episodes produced so the journey can continue. 

Below are two series previews: 

You have a few options for viewing the complete series:

On YouTube 

For more information about the production, please visit the official web site:  

Haywire: The Series 

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Blood And Bone China - A Chilling, Gothic Vampire Web Series

No one can deny vampires are the superstars of the horror genre. 

However, many feel these once most terrifying of monsters have lost their edge.  Vampires  in popular media have now mostly become sympathetic, romantic anti-heroes, the objects of desire instead of a source of terror - see Twilight.

So when a tale based on actual Eastern European vampire folklore arrives on the scene,  it can seem like a breath of fresh air.

Blood And Bone China is just that sort of story.  This 12-part gothic web series delivers on all fronts.  

Set in the English city of Stoke-On-Trent in 1897, the series reveals a citizenry under siege by dark terrors.  

Drawn into the mystery are a trio of unlikely heroes:  a skeptical country veterinarian,  a progressive female journalist determined to make a name for herself, and a mysterious man in black - who has secrets of his own.

Written and directed by Chris Stone, Blood And Bone China showcases a chilling script,  phenomenal cast,  deft cinematography, haunting score, and authentic Victorian-era props and costumes.

However, the crowning achievement of the series is it being filmed on location in the city of Stoke-On-Trent.  

The town itself is a character in the story, seemingly frozen in the 19th century. The result is you feel as though you have actually been transported back in time to Victorian England. 

In fact, many of the buildings used during filming were built in the 1800s.  Also, the director based the story on an actual incident which occurred in the city in 1972.  

He was so intrigued by the case, he also created a short documentary entitled Vampire of the Villas. 

My main criticism of the project is the unfortunate use of a rock song as the main theme.  The track is at jarring odds with the Victorian setting of the series. An instrumental piece contemporary to the period may have been been a better choice.

Still, this is a minor quibble with a terrific, well executed horror series.  

For your convenience, the first two episodes are available below:

For more information about the project, and to view the complete series, please visit its official web site:  Blood And Bone China.

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Project: S.E.R.A. - Not Your GrandPa's Zombie Story

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Image © IGN Entertainment

Project: S.E.R.A. is the sleek sci fi web series produced by the premiere entertainment  company for gamers, IGN.

The story focuses on the efforts of Gillian Eames (Julia Voth) and Lt. Riggins (Derek Theler) to stop the black market sale of an experimental serum developed by the United States military.  

This serum was developed to hasten the recovery of wounded veterans in Iraq and Afghanistan. However, this compound has an unexpected, horrific side effect which makes it extremely desirable as a biological weapon.

Project: S.E.R.A. is a compelling, exciting, and entertaining take on zombies - a subgenre threatening to become overdone.

What helps set the series apart is a number of notable factors including:

• A smart screenplay by Bill Kirchen and Nathan Miller

• Exceptional direction by director/creator Benjamin Howdeshell

• Dynamic fight and action sequences

• Superb visual and special effects

Another main attraction of Project: S.E.R.A. is the stellar performances of the main cast - especially Julia Voth. 

Ms. Voth imbues protagonist Gillian Eames with depth and complexity.  Yes, Gillian is a certified, grade A bad ass. Yet, beneath the surface is a woman of quiet vulnerability and keen intelligence.   It's not hyperbole to say Gillian Eames has a place among other top genre heroines such as Ellen Ripley or Alice, respectively of the Alien and Resident Evil films.

Project: S.E.R.A. is a six episode series, but there is a strong possibility more is yet to come.

I certainly hope so!

Below is a behind-the-scenes featurette: 

Here is the complete first episode:

 Update: Since the 2013 debut of Project: S.E.R.A., zombies have become even more widly popular. From The Walking Dead spinoffs to the Marvel Zombies Show, zombies remain all the rage. But Project: S.E.R.A. remains unique in its take.

Please visit IGN's START Channel on YouTube to view Project: S.E.R.A. in its entirety.

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Silverwood - A Horror Web Series About A Small Town With Dark Secrets

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Though I'm not the biggest fan of horror, during my childhood I  watched many episodes of  classic sci-fi series such as The Twilight Zone,  Tales From The Crypt, and George A. Romero's Tales From The Darkside.

Silverwood, an 11-part science fiction and horror mini-series, is the 21st century descendent of those horror anthologies.  

Created by filmmaker Tony E. Valenzuela and produced by BlackBoxTV, each episode of Silverwood tells a unique, chilling tale about the titular California hamlet.

From one young couple's planned night of intimacy gone horribly wrong, to a woman's first encounter with her boyfriend's wildly dysfunctional family, the web series features  contributions from notable creatives such as:

• Fan favorite genre actors, such as respected character actress Sharon Lawrence (NYPD Blue), Brea Grant (Heroes), and Jordan Hinson (Zoe Carter, Eureka)

• Acclaimed directors, like Drew Daywalt, who in my opinion directed the scariest episodes (make sure to watch the two-part episode The Hunger for proof!)

Each Silverwood tale features what producers call exclusive DLC (downloadable content), which is the digital equivalent to special bonus material on blu-ray discs and dvds.

While the episodes contain stand alone plots, there is an over-arching mythology that can only be appreciated if you watch all 11 vignettes.  Also, there are comic books and supplementary videos available, which serve to provide more insight into the history surrounding the mysterious town.

While not all of the episode work as well as others, Silverwood often provides more genuine chills than many recent full-length horror movies.  

For horror fans, it's definitely worth visiting Silverwood, but you wouldn't want to live there (cheesy pun intended). 

Below is the official trailer for the series: 

For more information about Silverwood, visit its official home on BlackBoxTv

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